Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-09-22
SOCIAL CUTTHROATS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A cOTERIe
OF NEW YORK Washers.

Quiet About Their viIlniny.rhe Masheu
with the white Lock-DaiIy Round o
. skillful Operator.
He belongs to q curious set of New
York men" said the judge. They ART
creatures of a recent growth, and doubt
very much if similar specimens Of the
genus man can be found anywhere else in
the world. They are called 'mashers' in
a general way, but they are in no sense
| like the gorgeous London man who has
/ given the word 'masher' its highest mean
ing The British 'masher' is a creature
of noble apparel, solemn and dissipated
air, advanced degrees in the courts OF
bankruptcy and general impressiveness.
| He wears q great many suits Of clothes
during the week. affects a burlesque
cctress and drives dashing traps.
The little circle of mashers in New
York has none Of these proclivities. They
are men who have lived on the surface Of
the town for many years, whose names
are familiar in all of the restaurants and
clubs and who have gained in one way
or another regulations rs slayers of femi-
nine hearts, which stand them in enor-
nous value. They are not in society,
sneer at the idea Of toll, live In the best
possible manner, dress quietly, and are
absolutely mum about the numerous
affairs in which they pass their lives. l
know q dozen men In this particular
crowd. but I never knew one OF them to
break the rules of the peculiar free
masonry which apparently exists among
them To keep quiet about their escapades.
This is the most curious feature Of the
whole thing A masher who does not
talk when success has crowned his efforts
would be rarity anywhere else except
in this extraordinary coterie. They are a
queer lot, and can't say that consider
them q credit to the city"
1t affords q droll study Of human
nature TO watch the operations Of the
mashers. Most Of their faces are as
familiar to mp town people as the Fifth
Avenue hotel. Their mode Of life is SIM
pie. Take, for instance, cold and austere
man. with a blonde mustache, a regular
profile, square shoulders and careless car
riage, who has been more or less famous
about town for fifteen years. He has q
scar running diaSonally across his fore
head, and just above it is a single lock or
Splash Of hair that Is as white as
snow, though the rest Of his hair is dark.
] have heard it enviably remarked by
other mashers that this gentleman's chief
success is due to the immobility Of his
face. the yellowness Of his mustache. the
whteness Of the splash and the dark mass
Of hair which throws it into such sharp
relief. He is, in fact, known rs His
Contrasts" In some quarters. Fifteen
years ago a woman followed him in cab
down Fifth avenue, slipped out as he
the steps of a rivals
house, ran up the steps, and pushing a
revolver against his head, hlazed away.
The bullet, instead of going through the
skull, ran across the forehead. She went
10 Europe in the arms Of her amiable
husband. and His Contrasts retired
into painful obscurity for time. Five
years after that he WAS mixed up in
row which is still talked about by old
timers. 1t was three cornered fight
,ne woman and two men-in the cabin Of
/ yacht in the lower bay. When they
ragged His Contrasts" out he was
pretty well knocked TO pieces. Two ribs |
we're broken, and his general physical |
welfare very sensibly impaired, but he
.ame up smiling. as usual. Ihsve known |
lim for many years. He has but one |
object in life.
His manner of living varies little from |
lay to day. have had many opportuni-
les for observing him, rs we once had
leighboring apartments in the same hotel, I
md he used to amuse himself when he |
lad m occasional half hour of leisure
rom his arduous duties by turning the
pictures in my room wrong side foremost,
,ribing the chambermaid to sew the
into all sorts Of grotesque posi-
ions, littering my desk with violent tele-
srams and indulging in various other
heerful and endearing pranks. At 10
,'clock every morning the chambermaid
loudly at his door.
II the tattoo Was loud enough the door
you'd open suddenly. there would be q
vild scream and a pattering of feet as the
scudded out OF danger, and
he masher would rush out into the hall
lad in pajamss, bath robes. nightcap, felt
lippers, and carrying a sponge the size OF
bushel basket He would then wander
n a more or less desultory way toward the
stopping TO pound on doors that
aught his lightsome fancy, and shying
oots through the transoms Of rooms
rhere men lived who had the distinguished
Misfortune TO possess his friendship.
About an hour and . half later he
vould wander into the main dining room
4 the hotel cast his experienced eye over
he people assembled there and eat a very
iGht breakfast. He wore frock suit all
ay long, and his tailor made half dozen
year for him. After breakfast he in
ariably lighted q big cigar, and, II the
veather was clear, strolled up Fifth
venue as far as Central park, and smiled
miably upon the troops Of pretty girls
rho were out with their governessses,
uses, companions, and chaperones, tax
ng the morning air. Every girl over 10
ears Of age apparently knew his history,
or they would stare at him and peep
yer their shoulders as he passed, in q
ashton that would startle a society actor.
IT half past or 2 O'Clock he drifted
lowly into DelmOnico's, scanned the
aces. acknowledged the surly mods Of
ther mashers with q short inclination Of
is head, picked out his table with undevi
ting skill, and spent the next two or
hree hours among the wives and daugh-
ers Of other men who were down town
ursuing the elusive dollar. His habit is
0 eat slowly, and look. with n gentle and
air, from one pair Of pretty
Yes to another.
If the portraits Of the handful of men
rho are constant subject Of talk among
he women of New York were published
hey would cause q robust and decisive
ort Of derision. The majority of them
re anything but resplendent or attract
We. II there is professional matinee, a
,icture sale, an art exhibition, boat
ace, a crack horse auction, dog show,
lorse show or circus going on in the after
lOon, the masher is as sure to be there as
be ticket seller. At night he dimes at
he Brunswick Delmonico's or the Hoff-
nan house but never in the cafe. In
his way day after day passes without the
ligh,est deviation The mashers all
now each other, they frequent the same
,laces, they are popular with men and
'ursued by women. and yet the occasions
re exceedingly rare when they are called
o account They are adroit and hold
heir tongues, and perhaps it is therein
hat their safe4uard ies.-New York Sup-